Lying with maps

Mark Monmonier

doi:10.1214/088342305000000241

Lying with maps

Mark Monmonier

Department of Geography and the Environment

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

Darrell Huff's How to Lie with Statistics was the inspiration for How to Lie with Maps, in which the author showed that geometric distortion and graphic generalization of data are unavoidable elements of cartographic representation. New examples of how ill-conceived or deliberately contrived statistical maps can greatly distort geographic reality demonstrate that lying with maps is a special case of lying with statistics. Issues addressed include the effects of map scale on geometry and feature selection, the importance of using a symbolization metaphor appropriate to the data and the power of data classification to either reveal meaningful spatial trends or promote misleading interpretations.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	215-222
Number of pages	8
Journal	Statistical Science
Volume	20
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1214/088342305000000241
State	Published - Aug 2005

Keywords

Classification
Deception
Generalization
Maps
Statistical graphics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Statistics and Probability
General Mathematics
Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty

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10.1214/088342305000000241

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title = "Lying with maps",

abstract = "Darrell Huff's How to Lie with Statistics was the inspiration for How to Lie with Maps, in which the author showed that geometric distortion and graphic generalization of data are unavoidable elements of cartographic representation. New examples of how ill-conceived or deliberately contrived statistical maps can greatly distort geographic reality demonstrate that lying with maps is a special case of lying with statistics. Issues addressed include the effects of map scale on geometry and feature selection, the importance of using a symbolization metaphor appropriate to the data and the power of data classification to either reveal meaningful spatial trends or promote misleading interpretations.",

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AB - Darrell Huff's How to Lie with Statistics was the inspiration for How to Lie with Maps, in which the author showed that geometric distortion and graphic generalization of data are unavoidable elements of cartographic representation. New examples of how ill-conceived or deliberately contrived statistical maps can greatly distort geographic reality demonstrate that lying with maps is a special case of lying with statistics. Issues addressed include the effects of map scale on geometry and feature selection, the importance of using a symbolization metaphor appropriate to the data and the power of data classification to either reveal meaningful spatial trends or promote misleading interpretations.

KW - Classification

KW - Deception

KW - Generalization

KW - Maps

KW - Statistical graphics

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Lying with maps

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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